queen Eastern Yellowjacket - Vespula maculifrons

Great shots

This one individual completely lacks the two yellow spots on mesoscutum. Picture of the face perfectly shows the yellow interantennal space - except in the middle part. A V. germanica would have a wholly black one.
The season of spring queens has not yet begun here in western Switzerland, because all is late this year: hardly the first Bumble and solitary bees are on the wing. I'm afraid there will be very few yellowjackets anyway.

… Richard Vernier, 18 April, 2006 - 4:36am

Thanks Richard

Too bad to hear about your late spring and lack of yellowjackets this year. It's been a mild winter over here, and spring has been a little early this year.

… tom murray, 18 April, 2006 - 5:26am